Josh Pate is a big fan of what Texas A&M HC Mike Elko has accomplished

Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0 SEC) is off to a hot start after finishing the first half of the 2024 regular season with a 5-1 record and a 3-0 SEC-leading conference record that shocked many in the national media that canceled the program after the Aggies’ season-opening loss to Notre Dame.

One of the most popular college football analysts in the country is a fan of what Texas A&M is building under new coach Mike Elko, especially after the Aggies defeated a top-10 ranked Missouri team 41-10 in front of a packed Kyle Field before entering Week 7, goodbye week.

This week, Pate, during a segment on his YouTube show with CFB analyst Cole Cubelic, discussed the difference in draft/player evaluations under former head coach Jimbo Fisher, who routinely relied on raw talent rather than ignoring 5 and 4 draft designations stars.

Although Elko helped build several of Texas A&M’s recruiting classes under Fisher during his time as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator, his successful two-year stint as Duke’s head coach was based on utilizing the transfer portal and recruiting athletes who fit into the team’s system. However, it’s all about selling the program to potential customers, something Elko has practically mastered.

“I would almost say this is as similar to Ohio State as it is to LSU, or an Ole Miss or Alabama in the way they attract kids to campus and the way they sell A&M,” Pate said.

“You have a guy who understands that, so I know it was good to beat Missouri, but even if they lost a dogfight to Missouri, there are only so many green arrows you get when you start to lift the hood on Texas A&M. I’m buying shares.”

This week, Elko and his staff focused on recruiting and participating in several games of 2025 commits. In the meantime, the team continues to train and recover before heading to Starkville to face Mississippi State next Saturday.

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